As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you….” (Matthew 24:3-4).

From this passage in Matthew all the way through chapter 25, the text is 100% the words of Jesus as he is teaching his disciples some of his most important teaching, knowing that “Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2). He has tried to make them understand that he will be going away, and that he will return (also known as the Second Coming) at some point in the future to usher in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

The disciples want to understand the significance of what is happening and how will they know what to do if He is not there to direct them. How should they, and we, watch and wait? While not Jesus’ last words, they almost are. He knows his time on earth is nearly finished and he has some important messages to share with his closest followers, which now include you and me.

Jesus teaches us to wait with vigilance (Matthew 24:4-25:13)

1. Watch out for false teachers and learn the true signs of the second coming. Now more than ever before we are challenged in every form of media with conspiracy theories, false advertising, and fake news. Some of it has just enough truth to deceive us—remember, Satan is the Deceiver, the Father of Lies. But Jesus is the Truth. Study God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to help you with understanding, and you will have a faithful interpreter to help you filter out false messaging.
2. Since the day and hour of Jesus’ second coming are unknown, it is essential to always be prepared. Don’t delay your decision to receive Jesus’ salvation. Don’t delay reconciling with your enemies. Don’t delay acting upon opportunities to show love. Tomorrow might just be too late.

Jesus teaches us to wait with diligence (Matthew 25:14-46)

1. Through the Holy Spirit, every believer is given spiritual gifts and resources such as time, money, talents, and health. We are to steward the gifts that Jesus gives us, and we have a responsibility to do our individual best to invest those gifts in the work of the Kingdom. And when Jesus returns, there will be a reckoning. Those who demonstrated their faith with fruitfulness will receive rewards. Those who did not will be banished to eternal punishment.
2. Jesus explains that the reckoning and future rewards will be based on how well we treated those who Jesus loved. This is not about earning our salvation. This is about demonstrating our faith through obedience. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10).

What do we do while we wait? With vigilance and diligence, we “…make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:23)

In Christ,

Judy